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Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Motorcycles in Comics: Tokyo Ghost

Continuing our Motorcycles in Comics series, I'd like to spotlight a great cyberpunk comic: Tokyo Ghost.

'Tokyo
Ghost' is another ongoing monthly comic series by Image comics. Written
by Rick Remender with art by Sean Murphy, the series is set in the not
too distant future of 2089 where technology has infected every facet of
human life and is now more like a highly addictive drug. If you've ever
tried to walk through downtown Seattle while having to avoid the endless
amount of people staring at their phone while they walk, this future
seems all too realistic.

The
story follows Led Dent and Debbie Decay, who chase down criminals who
hack other citizens (although the people they work for aren't exactly
saints themselves). Debbie is the smart, capable half of the duo, while
Led is essentially an extremely tough, highly tech-addicted enforcer.

Their
employer sends them on a mission to Tokyo, the last remaining nation
that is not overtaken by an obsession with technology. In fact, the
Tokyo of this future has gone in exactly the opposite direction you
would expect, with nature taking back the cities, and the people living
more in harmony with nature. It's a nice contrast to the cyberpunk
dystopia of Los Angeles that the book starts in.

Led
Dent's bike is not EXACTLY a motorcycle, in that it has an odd, tank
tread style design, but there are two independent wheels. It still feels
like a motorcycle that could exist, especially in a future such as
this.

The
story has a lot of adult themes including love, sacrifice, redemption,
and a whole lot of violence so it's not recommended reading for kids.
But if you're interested in sci-fi and motorcycles, it's highly
recommended.